Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 471 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 across 30 model years. The 2021 model year has the most (58). The words owners use most often: “sound engine” (7% of reports).
- 471engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 53%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Sound engine: mentioned in 32 of 471 complaints (7%)
- Oil cooler: mentioned in 28 of 471 complaints (6%)
- Motive power: mentioned in 24 of 471 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 at $2,500, and half of them between $1,500 and $5,050.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 331 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 471 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 20 a fire, 4 an injury.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Silverado 1500 | 1 | 1% | 9,000 |
| 2024 Silverado 1500 | 20 | 6% | 13,361 |
| 2023 Silverado 1500 | 26 | 7% | 40,000 |
| 2022 Silverado 1500 | 25 | 4% | 60,500 |
| 2021 Silverado 1500 | 58 | 7% | 66,000 |
| 2020 Silverado 1500 | 26 | 4% | 79,400 |
| 2019 Silverado 1500 | 50 | 5% | 84,130 |
| 2018 Silverado 1500 | 9 | 2% | 67,000 |
| 2017 Silverado 1500 | 4 | 1% | 43,000 |
| 2016 Silverado 1500 | 1 | 0% | 100,000 |
| 2015 Silverado 1500 | 12 | 1% | 90,030 |
| 2014 Silverado 1500 | 9 | 1% | 39,630 |
| 2013 Silverado 1500 | 2 | 1% | 120,000 |
| 2011 Silverado 1500 | 3 | 1% | 31,130 |
| 2010 Silverado 1500 | 5 | 1% | 30,650 |
| 2009 Silverado 1500 | 5 | 1% | 24,502 |
| 2008 Silverado 1500 | 7 | 1% | 13,000 |
| 2007 Silverado 1500 | 27 | 3% | 17,138 |
| 2006 Silverado 1500 | 13 | 4% | 50,500 |
| 2005 Silverado 1500 | 18 | 3% | 49,000 |
| 2004 Silverado 1500 | 25 | 3% | 86,500 |
| 2003 Silverado 1500 | 20 | 2% | 80,317 |
| 2002 Silverado 1500 | 13 | 3% | 68,865 |
| 2001 Silverado 1500 | 17 | 4% | 20,000 |
| 2000 Silverado 1500 | 11 | 2% | 87,000 |
| 1999 Silverado 1500 | 10 | 2% | 103,000 |
| 1998 Silverado 1500 | 17 | 5% | 10,000 |
| 1997 Silverado 1500 | 35 | 6% | 49,888 |
| 1996 Silverado 1500 | 1 | 14% | — |
| 1995 Silverado 1500 | 1 | 33% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Model years: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle stalled. The contact allowed the vehicle cool down for a while and the vehicle returned to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure persisted during high…
Chafed or Broken Wiring Harness (Very Common) â This is the most frequent cause on newer GM vehicles. The factory wiring harness to the Mass Airflow (MAF) sensor is too short or secured with an overly tight zip tie. Engine movement causes the LIN bus wire to chafe and break internally near the…
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH and overtaking a vehicle, the engine made loud popping and knocking sounds, and the vehicle experienced reduced power. The contact exited the interstate and stopped at a gas station, where oil was added…
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing inaccurate DEF gauge readings since the purchase, and the failure mostly occurred while towing a camper or trailer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on the highway and hauling a…
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that the exhaust manifold bolts had detached. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Silverado 1500s have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 471 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,500 (half paid between $1,500 and $5,050), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The most frequent phrase is “sound engine”, in 32 of 471 complaints, followed by “oil cooler” (28).
Other Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems
- Service Brakes problems (2,959)
- Electrical System problems (2,694)
- Engine problems (2,656)
- Power Train problems (2,508)
- Air Bags problems (2,409)
- Steering problems (1,526)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (1,525)
- Structure problems (933)
See all Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems.